EOBA director Howard Solomon with Steph Curry and Ayesha Curry. Image: CBS News.
A former executive director of a youth boxing charity in Oakland, California, diverted a $50,000 donation presented during Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry ‘s appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show into his personal bank account. Howard Solomon, also known as Solomon Howard, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison in September 2025 after pleading guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion. The donation was made to the East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) by a television studio in connection with a December 2019 episode featuring the Currys on Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways. Prosecutors said Solomon embezzled at least $549,000 from the organisation between 2017 and 2021, using charitable funds for personal expenses. EOBA received the $50,000 donation in October 2019, according to the US Department of Justice. During the segment, Stephen and Ayesha Curry delivered various gifts to the organisation, including a $50,000 cheque from the show. Solomon served as executive director of the East Oakland Boxing Association from approximately late 2016 until 2021.
Prosecutors said he used this access to transfer organisational funds into accounts he controlled at other financial institutions. Prosecutors said he used the money for personal expenses unrelated to his role at the organisation. He was also ordered to repay the charity and the Internal Revenue Service. The contribution was connected to the Currys’ appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in December that year, during a segment called Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways. The donation came from the television studio, not necessarily from the Currys personally. The Justice Department identified the studio as the donor and linked the gift to the couple’s appearance on the programme. His responsibilities included overseeing the organisation’s daily operations, fundraising, programmes, staff and finances. He was an authorised signatory on the charity’s Wells Fargo bank accounts. He also deposited charitable contributions into personal and business accounts without the organisation’s authorisation. These included a Ford Explorer, a vacation rental and purchases made through Amazon.